Stow Conservation Commission
Minutes
January 20, 2015
A meeting of the Stow Conservation Commission was held at the Stow Town Building, 380 Great Road, Stow, Massachusetts, on January 20, 2015 at 7:30 in the evening.
There were present: Cortni Frecha, Chair
Andy Snow, Vice-Chair
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark
Serena Furman
Sandra Grund
Doug Morse
Jeff Saunders
comprising a quorum of the Commission
Also present: Kathy Sferra, Conservation Coordinator
Jacquelyn Goring, Conservation Assistant
The Conservation Commission meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM.
Minutes
Andy Snow made a motion to approve the minutes of January 6, 2015 as drafted and amended. Doug Morse seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
2014 Annual Report -
Serena Furman made a motion to approve the 2014 Annual Report as drafted and amended. Ingeborg Hegemann Clark seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Notice of Intent Continuation
MacNaughton Trust – Lot 2 Crescent Street
Greg Roy of Ducharme & Dillis was present as a representative of MacNaughton Trust. Roy informed the Commission that he has been in contact with Ecotech, who conducted the initial wetland delineation at the property 17 years ago, to complete the groundwater monitoring grid. Ecotech will plan to go to the site at the beginning of the growing season to review the site and establish an appropriate groundwater monitoring grid and plan. Ecotech expects to have the plan prepared by late April or early May. Roy noted that he would like to continue the groundwater monitoring plan through the public hearing process and have the Commission review the plan and go to the site to observe the groundwater monitoring well locations. Roy noted that there would be an eight week monitoring period with results expected in July. The Commission discussed
continuing the Notice of Intent through July and the impact on abutters and the potential for changes to the Commission members. Kathy Sferra asked Roy if he had considered filing an Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation (ANRAD). Roy stated that an ANRAD was completed for the property 17 years ago and he did not feel there were significant changes to the wetland line since then. The Commission discussed the installation and monitoring for the groundwater wells, the potential for perched groundwater in the area, and the timeline for the project. Roy confirmed he will have a plan and proposal submitted by May 1, 2015 to allow time for the Town consultant, Tom Peragallo, to review it and agreed to continue the hearing to May 19, 2015.
Serena Furman made a motion to continue the public hearing for a Notice of Intent filed by the MacNaughton Trust to May 19, 2015 on or after 7:30 PM. Andy Snow seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Notice of Intent (#299-0584)
Minuteman Air Field – 302 Boxboro Road (R-7 #34 and #35)
Don McPherson of Minute Man Air Field and David Rich of Stantec Consulting Services were present as representatives for Minuteman Air Field Inc. Rich informed the Commission that there had been an oversight in the abutters list and notifications for the project. The work is being conducted on two parcels, 34 and 35, with the majority of the work is being done on parcel 35. Rich informed the Commission that the abutters to parcel 34 had not been notified to date and Stantec would be sending out notices to these abutters the following day. Kathy Sferra noted that the hearing will be continued to February 17, 2015 and that the project will need to be presented again because all abutters were not notified prior to the October meeting.
Rich updated the Commission on progress since the initial hearing in October which included a site walk, application with the Board of Selectman for earth removal and with the Planning Board for the erosion control special permit. Rich informed the Commission that they had not received an earth removal permit from the Board of Selectman because the project did not meet the criteria of the Earth Removal Bylaw which only allows earth removal offsite for landscaping projects. Rich displayed plans that included temporary stockpiles which are located within the wetland buffer and associated erosion controls. It is anticipated that Minute Man Air Field Inc. will reapply for an earth removal permit once the bylaw is changed and the piles will be removed at some point thereafter, although they understand that they could be permanent.
Serena Furman asked if the stockpile is located in the wetland replication area and if the elevation would change. Rich noted that the stockpile would be located within 10’ of the wetland edge and would be approximately six or seven feet high. Cortni Frecha ask for details on the slope of the stockpiles and Rich stated there are graphics that include slope height for stockpiles and that any stock pile with more than a three to four foot slope would be covered with erosion control fabric. Andy Snow asked what material is being stockpiled which Don McPherson clarified would be ledge. Six inches of topsoil and seed will be placed along the edge of the stockpiles.
Serena Furman made a motion to continue the public hearing for a Notice of Intent filed by the Minuteman Air Field Inc. to February 17, 2015 on or after 7:30 PM. Andy Snow seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Town of Stow - Pompositticut School – 511 Great Road (R-9 #92)
The Commission signed the Order of Conditions Form which was approved on January 6, 2015.
Order of Conditions
Zander Brook (Elizabeth Brook) Culvert Replacement – Delaney Street
The Commission reviewed and amended a draft of the Order. The Order was modified to include a request for an onsite meeting, written narrative, and vendor specifications on how the water will be diverted upstream. The Commission also ask that the Highway Department notify the Commission if any work needs to be done that is not included on the approved plan and that an final plan must be provided that includes inlet elevations completed by a Professional Engineer. The Commission also included a provision that the site must be secured in advance to a major storm event and monitoring must occur throughout the event to ensure erosion is not occurring.
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark made a motion to approve and issue the Order of Conditions filed by the Town of Stow for the culvert replacement of Zander Brook at Delaney Street. Jeff Saunders seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Coordinator’s Report
Assignments – Kathy Sferra noted that she expects a filing from Collings Foundation for the museum project this week. Jeff Saunders will take the lead for the project with Doug Morse, Sandra Grund and Andy Snow to assist. Cortni Frecha will lead the Pine Bluffs Notice of Intent. Andy Snow and Jacquie Goring will conduct the site visits for the two Certificate of Compliance requests at 72 Boon Road and 27-29 Gleasondale Road.
Maple Street Violation – 200 Maple Street – Sferra updated the Commission on the 200 Maple Street filing. Albertelli sent in the Request for Determination (RDA) form using the form to file under Chapter 91. Sferra has since updated the website to take the user directly to the correct form rather than to the MassDEP form list. Sferra reached out to Albertelli about completing the correct form and he expressed concerns about the difficulty of the filing process. The Commission discussed the next steps and determined that Sferra should assist Albertelli with filling out the correct RDA form.
Forest Cutting Plan – The Commission discussed a draft response to a Forest Cutting Plan for a property on Barton Road which includes two wetland crossings and tree cutting in wetlands. The Commission reviewed the draft comments and the need for the forester to file under the local Wetland bylaw. The Commission would like to see the limit of work flagged in the field as well as have the corduroy removed after completion of the project.
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark made a motion to approve and issue the comments on the Forest Cutting Plan as well as request a filing for Request for Determination from the forester. Doug Morse seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Planning Board Request for Comment – Pine Bluffs - The Commission discussed the Planning Board’s request for comment on the Pine Bluffs project. The Commission will be reviewing the project as part of a Notice of Intent and will be focusing on the stability of the roadway down to the beach.
Commission’s Report
Delaney Street Solar Field – Serena Furman noted that she observed that the silt fence has not been removed from the solar field project on Delaney Street. Sferra will look into it.
At 9:20 PM Serena Furman made a motion to go into Executive Session pursuant to MGL Chapter 39, section 23 B(3), for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to potential litigation and the purchase of real property, and to adjourn thereafter. Ingeborg Hegemann Clark seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Roll Call Vote – 7-0 in favor. Cortni Frecha, aye, Jeff Saunders, aye, Serena Furman, aye, Andy Snow, aye, Sandra Grund, aye, Doug Morse, aye Ingeborg Hegemann Clark, aye.
Respectfully submitted,
Jacquelyn Goring
Conservation Assistant
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